Our Correspondent
Kisama | September 16
Nagaland state would be scripting another major chapter in its history by hosting the first-ever World Bamboo Day on Saturday at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which would be graced by none other than the Vice President of India, Dr. M. Hamid Ansari and will see participation of delegates from around the world.
As a precursor to the historic day, a two-day international seminar on bamboo has already been kicked off by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio this morning where delegates from 13 countries have registered their participation. During the next couple of days a series of programmes have been chalked out to mark the celebration.
Explaining the reasons behind selecting Nagaland to host the historic first World Bamboo Day, President of the World Bamboo Organization (WBO), Kamesh Salam said Nagaland has emerged a forerunner in usage of bamboo noting that it is the first state in the country to have a clear bamboo policy. Also pointing to the fact that the state accounts for five percent of India’s total growing stock of bamboo, i.e 448,000 hectares, he said it is justified that Nagaland is the perfect venue to host the key celebration.
The celebration, he said, will feature programmes such as bamboo planting, bamboo marathon, craft competition, workshops, painting competition for school children, bamboo music and food festival and exhibitions on bamboo craft and products and the north east international bamboo festival.
An official from the National Bamboo Mission said the mission is obliged to Nagaland for putting up such an impressive show and heaped praises on the Nagaland for excellent implementation of its schemes. He also remarked that Nagaland has the potential to become a centre of attraction for bamboo in the entire country and even parts of the world.
Special Director of the WBO, Jefree Trudeau from Hawaii, USA, echoed similar opinion, remarking that Nagaland has the potential to lead the way to the next level of bamboo technology. Remarking that he was overwhelmed by the remarkable projects undertaken by the Nagaland government, he assured that the WBO would extend support to it in its ventures. “We want to make bamboo more acceptable internationally”, he stated.
Member of the North East Council (NEC), P.P Shrivastava shared his vision to alleviate poverty, particularly among the rural population, through bamboo, noting that 70 percent of the rural poor are dependent on bamboo.
“Bamboo is a commodity that can eradicate poverty”, he said asserting that “we (northeast) are in the best position to make the best use of bamboo” while referring to the fact that the northeast region accounts for two-thirds of the country’s bamboo.
Referring to bamboo as the Almighty’s best gift to mankind, he emphasized that the plant has the potential to replace all other wood in terms of usage.
Heaping praises on the Rio-led DAN Government for what he called incredible pace of development ever since taking over the reins of government, Shrivastava, who has been acquainted with Nagaland for over a half-century now, made a special appeal to the Chief Minister to ensure that beginning from January 2011, all community buildings in Nagaland be made of treated bamboo.
He, too, was of the opinion that Nagaland was in a position to take initiatives and to take the lead in bamboo development.
Meanwhile, the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, was an altogether-transformed venue with multitudes thronging the place akin to the Hornbill Festival. The difference, however, was quite noticeable as, Kisama gained another majestic and impressive Heritage Bamboo Hall right within the complex. Bamboo enthusiasts and entrepreneurs were also seen displaying their wares and demonstrating their skills with the ‘Green Gold’ at every corner of the Heritage Complex.
These series of programmes, that are expected to add another feather in the cap of the Nagaland government, would climax with the visit of His Excellency, the Vice President and his lady wife, during which, he would be honoring bamboo pioneers, give away prizes, release a book on bamboo besides inspecting the crafts bazaar and plant a bamboo to mark the day.
